Executive Summary
When Bashar al-Assad fled Syria on December 8, 2024, his propaganda machine collapsed—but disinformation did not. A massive information void emerged, and foreign actors rushed to fill it.
According to Middle East Eye research, at least 50,000 posts spread false or unreliable information about Syria's new administration. 60% originated from accounts outside Syria—in Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iran.
Russia and Iran, having lost their military foothold, have pivoted to information warfare to destabilize the transition. The goal: amplify sectarian tensions, discredit the new government, and create the impression of chaos.
Major Debunked Claims
"Breaking: First images of Bashar al-Assad and wife Asma arriving in Moscow after fleeing Syria"
"Assad's plane lost 6,700 meters in seconds—video shows plane fragment engulfed in flames"
AAP fact-checkers found the image was from September 2024 showing an Indian Air Force jet on fire in Rajasthan. Assad's flight to Moscow was uneventful.
"Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Abu Mohamed al-Jolani) coordinated with Israeli intelligence to topple Assad"
TIMEP investigation found the claim was supported by a fabricated image falsely attributed to Alsharq News. No such statement or photo exists on the outlet's platforms.
"Video shows Syrian rebels burning Christmas decorations after taking Damascus"
The video was decontextualized and amplified to inflame religious tensions. Christian communities in Syria have reported no systematic targeting by the new administration.
"Maher al-Assad is returning to the Syrian coast with Russian military support to reclaim power"
Atlantic Council identified this as a deliberate rumor spread through WhatsApp groups by Assad loyalists waging an "information war" to create panic.
Foreign Actors Driving Disinformation
The Al Jazeera Media Institute and DISA have identified multiple state and non-state actors exploiting Syria's information vacuum:
Sputnik and RT amplify narratives framing HTS as "terrorists" and the transition as Western-backed regime change. Continues decades-long White Helmets attacks, accusing the humanitarian group of staging chemical attacks.
PressTV and Iranian state media push narratives about "American-Zionist agenda" destabilizing the region. Accounts from Iran amplify sectarian content targeting Sunni-led new government.
Accounts linked to Hezbollah push sectarian narratives warning of Shia persecution under the new administration. Some originate from Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.
BBC identified over 100,000 posts spreading hate speech against Alawis, many from Saudi and Turkish-based accounts seeking to inflame sectarian divisions.
Origin of Disinformation Posts (per Middle East Eye)
"Our team has not witnessed a flood of misleading news like the one we are facing now."
— CEO, Taakad Platform (Syrian fact-checking organization)
"It has markedly increased since the fall of the Assad regime. Years of revolution, then civil war, have left behind deeply entrenched grievances, and various factions—both local and international—are now leveraging disinformation to strengthen their positions."
— Zouhir Al-Shimale, Verify-Sy
How Disinformation Spreads
The Thomson Reuters Foundation documented the spread mechanisms:
- WhatsApp Groups: Assad loyalists wage "information war" through massive group chats. Unverified reports shared in sizable channels create impressions of anarchy.
- Recycled Footage: Old videos from other conflicts (Libya, Iraq, Palestine) relabeled as "Syria December 2024" to fabricate atrocities.
- AI-Generated Content: AI tools used to create fake statements, fabricated photos, and doctored videos.
- Fake Facebook Pages: Pages mimicking human rights organizations incite violence against Alawite communities.
Real-World Impact
Disinformation has already caused real violence. In early 2025, a series of violent incidents in Homs were preceded by sharp spikes in disinformation targeting minority communities in Latakia and Tartous.
False reports of attacks on religious sites triggered protests and civil unrest. One video claiming to show an attack on an Alawite shrine in Aleppo was debunked by Verify-Sy—it was weeks old and taken during HTS operations in November 2024—but not before it inflamed tensions.
The targeting of fact-checkers has also intensified. A man from Ayn Al Sharqiyah who posted a video challenging false narratives was doxxed and harassed by groups seeking to silence corrections.
ACTIVE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN
Syria is experiencing one of the largest coordinated disinformation surges in recent history. Foreign state actors—particularly Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah-aligned networks—are exploiting the post-Assad information vacuum to destabilize the transition. Verify all Syria-related claims before sharing. Check with Verify-Sy, AAP, AFP, or Reuters before amplifying any content from the region.